An apparent suicide attack killed one of Pakistan’s provincial ministers when it destroyed the minister’s home in Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s political heartland. The minister was there reportedly with his staff to mediate a local dispute, and the bombers appear to have had excellent intelligence as to his movements and the weakness of the security apparatus surrounding him. The entire structure collapsed in on itself trapping and killing many, including Mr Khanzada. A rescue operation was launched, with at least 14 bodies having been recovered, with the final death toll as yet unconfirmed. Responsibility for the attack is reportedly being taken by a militant group with known affiliations to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan – Lashkar-e-Islam – and is claimed to be in retaliation for military action taken against them. There are also reports that the death in a police ‘encounter’ of the prominent extremist and head of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Malik Ishaq, also played a role in the attack. It may also be a retaliatory response to the killing of a prominent al Qaeda figure a month ago.
He had always been a strong advocate for curbing sectarian violence through eliminating terrorists and an operation was being carried out against the LeJ in Attock. Khanzada had been receiving death threats and it seems he was on the right track in his investigations.If the government needed to a clear reason to go after the LeJ, it doesn’t get clearer than this. This is an attack against the State. There is no excuse to let the violent group off the hook because it is now leaderless. Shuja Khanzada was killed in retaliation of Malik Ishaq’s killing and was known for his zero-tolerance anti-terrorist stance. The government and intelligence agencies know the LeJ structure well, and they must dismantle it. These groups have been allowed to operate with impunity. The state only wakes up when it is too late, when people are already buried under rubble. How long before other tolerated groups like the Jamat ud Daawa and the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jammat engage in similar attacks? In the past year Pakistani authorities have cracked down hard on the myriad insurgent groups that have plagued the country for a decade, and retaliation by them has come with a heavy price. With the success of Zarb-e-Azb, revenge attacks have now been proven to be the next form of attack launched by the enemy.An unmistakable message has been sent to the political leadership, not only of Punjab but every other province as well. There is no safe ground. If there are successful actions against terrorist or extremist groups, they can and will retaliate. They have the competencies and the capacity, and will exploit vulnerabilities at every opportunity. Successful as the operations may be against them, these groups remain dangerous.
pk.shafaqna.com
